Council members discussed what Warren called the "lazy" double-parking ordinance tonight at a
council public safety committee meeting. The proposed ordinance must go
before full council for vote.

Warren’s idea is to make the penalty $100 for lazy double parking, which is when someone double parks within 20 feet of a vacant space. After seven days of not paying the ticket, the price would go up another $25. After a to-be-set period, the price of the ticket would go up by $50.

“This is meant to give the police department another tool,” Warren said. “Double parking has been a problem in this city for quite some time.”

But Councilwoman Elinor Warner wonders why the city doesn’t raise fees on all examples of double parking.

“If you want to discourage double parking, why not just increase the fine?” Warner asked. “We already have a law. We could send a serious message by just enforcing it.”

She said someone might be able to fight such a ticket by saying there was not a nearby spot available when he or she parked, but that it opened when he or she was inside a storefront.

Easton police Chief Carl Scalzo said such a defense is "one we couldn’t argue with.”

But city Administrator Glenn Steckman said while the ordinance is “going to add to the size of the code book,” it could also encourage drivers to be more courteous.

In the last six months, as few as seven people have been given tickets for double parking, Warren said.

“The department is trying to make this city a friendly city,” he said. “We’re not trying to ticket our way to budget salvation.”